Residents of the national capital have started complaining of breathing difficulties amid rising air pollution levels. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Friday that “drone monitoring” would be implemented in the 13 hotspots, where pollution levels generally exceed the air quality index ( AQI) normal for the city.

During his visit to Wazirpur industrial area, one of the hotspots, Gopal Rai said his government was working “day and night” to tackle pollution.

On Thursday, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud raised concerns over rising pollution levels in the city during an informal discussion with journalists at the Supreme Court. He revealed that his doctor advised him to refrain from morning walks due to poor air quality, which poses risks to respiratory health.

Speaking to news agency ANI on Friday, Delhi resident Kalyani Tiwari said, “I have been facing constant headaches and breathing problems due to the pollution. The government must start cleaning the rivers and with Chaat Puja and other festivities coming up, the government must start taking action. Another resident said pollution levels in the coming days could reach a point where people would struggle to leave their homes.

Here are the latest updates

– Gopal Rai told the media on Friday that the AAP Government has put in place a winter action plan to combat winter pollution, implementing various measures to reduce pollution linked to vehicles and biomass combustion.

– Due to higher than normal pollution levels in Delhi’s 13 hotspots, the government has decided to monitor these areas using drones. Wazirpur is one such hotspot, where drone operations have started, run by an authorized agency.

– The drone will capture images of pollution sources within a radius of 200 meters in Wazirpur, thereby enabling analysis of pollution sources in different districts. These images will be used to create a report for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Environment Department.

– Delhi experienced heavy smog on Friday, with an air quality index (AQI) of 283 at 8 am. Specific AQI readings at other locations included 218 in Anand Vihar, 245 in Punjabi Bagh, 276 in India Gate and 288 in Jhilmil Industrial. Area.

– Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Thursday sent a letter to Chief Minister Atishi regarding the city’s pollution problems. He proposed the deployment of Civil Defense Volunteers (CDV) for anti-pollution efforts over four months, from November 1 to the end of February.

– Toxic foam was observed floating on the Yamuna River due to high pollution levels. Additionally, on Thursday, Public Works Department (PWD) vehicles sprayed water in several areas to help alleviate air pollution.

– Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Thursday immersed himself in the heavily polluted waters of the Yamuna river, criticizing former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for failing to fulfill his promise to clean up the river. river by 2025.

After the immersion, Sachdeva experienced skin rashes and slight difficulty breathing. According to a Delhi BJP statement, he was examined by doctors at RML Hospital, who prescribed him medicines for three days.

– Punjab has reported 1,638 farm fires so far this season, reflecting a 16% decrease compared to the same period last year, PTI reported. Last year, 1,946 incidents of stubble burning were reported as of October 23. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often cited as a contributing factor to increased air pollution in Delhi after the rice harvest in October and November.

– As air pollution levels rise in many cities, the government has urged all states to step up their preparedness and strengthen healthcare capacities to deal with worsening pollution, especially during the season festivals and at the start of winter. The Union Health Ministry also encouraged the public to use public transport and avoid highly congested areas.